Last Monday, we celebrated the feast of Saint Francis of Assisi and I was reminded of the terrible condition of the Church at the end of the eleventh century and the start of the twelfth.  The existing forms in which Christianity had found historical expression were brought under the Roman Catholic Church in spite of the fact that it could not longer contain the whole of Christendom.  The Church and the State were forming two entities.

The Calabrian Abbot Jocahim of Flora wrote that the age of the Father (Old Testament) and the age of the Son (New Testament) were coming to an end in 1260 and we would enter into the age of the Holy Spirit, the “third kingdom”. He saw the prophecy fulfilled in Saint Francis of Assisi. The followers of Francis were divided between Spirituals and Conventuals.  The Spirituals emphasized the individual Christian who would be guided by the Spirit and held that there was the possibility of a thorough and total christianization of the existing world in a form less burdened by earthly obstacles. When you let the Spirit free you don’t know where He will lead you or where you will end up for “the Spirit blows where it wills,” said Jesus.

The Conventuals were in favor of the existing secular-ecclesiastical unity of the imperial Church. As Albert Mirgeler writes in his book Mutations of Western Christianity: “The famous controversy between the two parties in the Order—the Spirituals and the Conventuals—was no mere harmless monkish squabble without interest today, but a continuation of the discussion of our themes: namely, whether Christianity had to be predominantly personal or institutional.”  Saint Francis tried to be with both Conventuals and Spirituals in that he placed his new community as an Order under the Pope and required complete abandonment of possessions.  Mirgeler states, with convincing argument, that it would have been disastrous both for the Church and the society if the Spirituals had prevailed.

We see somewhat the same controversy in our time. People in the Church want more autonomy and a greater role in the decisions affecting individual practice and parish life.  We see the Church holding on for dear life to its traditions and power.  No wonder Pope John Paul II, when speaking to the New England bishops called for a more collaborative ministry.  Although the Conventuals and Spirituals are no longer with us their ideas still are.  Like Saint Francis we need to combine the two poles into a collaborative harmony.

Offertory for October 2^nd & 3rd    $3829.50

Envelope Offerings         $3471.50

Loose Cash                       $ 358.00

St. John/St. Hugh                                   $450.00

This week we ask you to pray for those who are ill, including, Brianna Cimino, Rosemary Harvey, Regina Jones, Andrea Hynes, Joyce Amos, Regina Wingard, Erin McMehon, Maria Aguis, George Beck, Dr. Kenneth Spengler, Josephine Murphy, Peter Bugda, Norma Berstein, Camille Michals, Rob Morway, Patricia Hassett, Paul McCann, William Francis, Lillian Davenport, James Fontaini, Henri Fradette, William Blair, Agatha Pals, Kath Rodriegas, Estelle Szalajeski, Nancy Driscoll, Dante DiManna, Margie Levine, Doug Phillips, Ralph Tatro, Andrew Day, Peggy Sue Grow, Mary Serpa, Deborah Miller, Dorothy Lee, William MacKinnon, Mary Jefferson, Elizabeth Conte, Shane McCarthy, Mildred Wood, Violet Caldaroni, Frank Cote, James Bresnahan, Ann Mulray, Rita Mahan, Connie Perrotta, Jackie Sullivan, Jean Babbin, Gerard Sarno, Dorothy Grant, Gretin Cervantes, Marisol O’Brien, Paul Pantano, Fran Ressetar, Cecelia Hines, Margaret Wright, Renee Chapman, Peter Bellini, Christine Gainer, Chris Ann Colletti, Helen McLaughlin, Paul Doherty, Mary Dawson, Jorge Loayza, Joseph Brault, Lauren Forgette, Chuck Kiernan, Bill Attaya, Margaret Coughlin, John McCarthy, Don Sabatand, Laura Mac Aulay, Stella Guarino, Bill Graham, Bob Remeika, Mary Hosford, Dorothy Barton and Gerry Dingavin.  Please also pray for Hilda Gomes, mother of Rev. Ronald Gomes.

The Parish Office will be closed on Monday,

October 11^th in celebration of Columbus Day.

In Memory of Pauline

Some Sacred Heart parishioners who took part in the Genesis Battlegreen Run last year will be doing so again this year, on Nov. 7^th with a memorial run in honor of Pauline Briggs.  Fellow parishioners are invited to join her friends and family in cheering on runners.  T-shirts with her picture will be for sale.  Look for more information in the Bulletin.

9:00 – Saturday, October 16^th   Gerald & Eleanor Amadeo

Remember Me

Sacred Heart Parish Community will have a special Memorial Mass to commemorate all Souls.  Jesus calls us to make memory.  Every Eucharistic liturgy says…“do this in memory of me”.  The liturgy, celebrated on Saturday October 30^th at 4:00pm, will commemorate all those whose funeral liturgies were celebrated here at Sacred Heart, from October 31, 2003 through November 1, 2004.  Everyone is welcome to celebrate all the deceased members of Sacred Heart Parish, their families and friends.  Please save the date.

You may want to wish Father Colletti a Happy Birthday this weekend.  There could be a special hospitality this morning shortly (there is an 11:00 Baptism) after the 10:00 Mass. 

Also celebrating birthdays this month are our other staff members, Maureen McKeown, Sr. Mary Nagle and Sr. Mary Lyman!!!  Birthday wishes to ALL!

Youth Ministry Adult Commission

New members are needed to make our Youth Ministry work!  Kate Doherty (YM at St. Brigid) has sent a letter to all parents in both parishes inviting them to become active members of the adult board.

Please consider this as your ministry and call Kate at 781-862-8724 x23.

St. Brigid’s

Religious Education News

There will be no Religious Education Classes on Sunday, October 10^th in observance of the Columbus Day weekend holiday.

CLASSES FOR GRADES 1-6

Sunday, October 17^th

8:50-9:50AM

Tuesday, October 12^th

3:45-4:45

5:15 – 6:15 PM

Wednesday, October 13^th

3:45 – 4:45PM

GRADE 7 AND 8 CLASSES

Wednesday, October 13^th

5:30-6:30PM

CLASSES FOR GRADE 9

Sunday, October 17^th

7:00-8:30PM

CLASSES FOR GRADE 10

Monday, October 18^th

7:00-8:30PM

Grade Six Class

The students of Grade Six Religious Education will host the 10:00am Mass at St. Brigid’s on Sunday, October 17^th. They will serve as greeters, readers and gift bearers.  The students will receive their bibles and a special blessing. Refreshments will be served downstairs by the 6^th grade parents.

Nanny Wanted

An experienced Nanny is needed for 21 hours per week to care for a 9 month-old infant girl in the Arlington Heights area.  Please call 617-699-9852 if you are interested.  There is a flyer on the BB in the parish center.

Walk to Help Dyslexic Children

The annual Battle Green Walk to Help Dyslexic Children will take place on Sunday, October 24^th (rain or shine) at 1:00 at the Masonic Learning Center for Children 33 Marrett Road, Lexington.  Please call Edward A. Sherman, 178-599-8800 or 800-585-7605 or log on to www.dyslexlawalk.org for further information.

Coordinator of YM: Maureen McKeown

781-861-8385 X21 - email: nychick1@comcast.net

YOUTH MASS:  On this past Sunday our combined faith communities celebrated our first Youth Mass at St. Brigid.  It was a wonderful, vibrant liturgy.  The program following gave all our 9^th & 10^th grade teens an opportunity to meet and consider the social/service/spiritual opportunities available through the YM program.  Our thanks to Fr. Curtin and Fr. Smith for their warm welcome, Fr. Chris O’Connor, Todd and all the volunteers who helped make the evening a success

A particular thanks to Joe Rancantore (Rancantore Ice Cream) for his generous contribution to our ice cream social!

NEXT YOUTH MASS:  PLANNING MEETING.  Come be a part of the planning for our Youth Mass on Sunday, November 7.  We will meet at. St. Brigid @ 7:00 PM on Monday, October 18 with Fr. Colletti.  All are welcome – when you participate you can be sure you won’t be “bored”!

YOUTH EUCHARISTIC MINISTER TRAINING:  Will be held at St. Brigid on Thursday, October 28 @ 7:00 PM.  Any confirmed (or about-to-be confirmed teen) is welcome to attend.  Your presence at worship is a public witness to your faith community.

NEXT YOUTH LEADERSHIP PLANNING MEETING:  Monday, October 28 @ St. Brigid.  Check next week’s bulletin for time.

Do you have any questions or suggestions re: our Youth program?  Email either me or Kate Doherty @ irishkad@hotmail.com

Coming Events

City Year Serve-a-thon – Oct. 23

Y.O.W. Hear about this great weekend of

December 10, 11 & 12^th

from teens who have been there

Ski Retreat (Feb. 23 – 25) Limited numbers

Bulletins	Sacred Heart Parish Bulletin - October 10, 2004	Home